Plus: GermanFest and the (possibly) cruelty-free Great Bull Run.

Midcentury mania is back and bigger than ever, thanks to “Mad Men” and a renewed interest in minimalist design. But for the Minnesota Street Rod Association’s annual Back to the ’50s weekend, it never left. Every year, the MSRA covers the streets of the State Fairgrounds with more than 11,000 street rods, customs, classics and restored vehicles from 1964 and earlier. Now in its 41st year, the classic car show is still going strong and sticking to the script: a classic car auction, a model car contest, a pedal tractor pull, a craft fair and live ’50s-inspired music. Noted car geek Rick Dore from Discovery Channel’s “Lords of the Car Hoarders” will make an appearance. (8 a.m.-10 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 6 a.m.-3 p.m. Sun. $10. State Fairgrounds, 1265 N. Snelling Av., Falcon Heights. www.msrabacktothe50s.com.) Jahna Peloquin

SATURDAY-SUNDAY

GermanFest

Oktoberfest in June? Not exactly. The summertime GermanFest takes over the old Schmidt Brewery in St. Paul for a weekend-long Deutschland shindig. More than a beer and brat bash (don’t worry, they’ll have those, too), GermanFest is about all things German — from polka tunes to, uh, strong-man competitions. We suggest hitting the family-friendly event at 2 p.m. Saturday to watch Germany battle Ghana in the World Cup, or for the Schmidt sign relighting ceremony (8:30 p.m. Sat.). Attend Friday night’s VIP pre-party (5 p.m.) and $35 gets you unlimited food and drink. (10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sat., 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sun. Historic Schmidt Brewery, 882 W. 7th St., St. Paul. www.germanfestmn.org.) M.R.

SATURDAY

The Great Bull Run

There’s no shortage of opportunities for adult jack-assery at Saturday’s Great Bull Run at the Elk River Extreme Motor Park. If you can keep your pants clean while being chased by 18 1,500-pound bulls for a quarter-mile ($75, 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m. start times), sully them afterward in a massive tomato fight (3:30 p.m., $55 or free for paid bull runners). If you’re content watching others act a fool, $15 spectator tickets are available and there will be plenty of food, beer and apparently foam dance pits (in case you change your mind). Heads up on the $10 parking fee. (Sat. Elk River Extreme Motor Park. 21591 Hwy. 169, Elk River, Minn. www.thegreatbullrun.com.) Michael Rietmulder